Our Legal Team
Meet the Team
Yonas and Phillabaum provides legal services to real people, facing real world situations. Our legal team works diligently to educate and advocate on behalf of their clients.
Get Started With a Team That Will Fight for You.
John Yonas
Member Attorney and Owner
Practice Areas include: Real Estate Law, Estate Planning, and Business Law.
Licensed in Ohio
John Yonas received his Bachelor’s degree in accounting from The Ohio State University College of Business in 1997. He received his juris doctor degree from The Ohio State University College of Law in 2000. After graduation, John worked for PricewaterhouseCoopers as a Tax Attorney and Consultant. At PricewaterhouseCoopers, John worked with a wide range of clients, from Fortune 500 companies to small entrepreneurs, implementing tax planning strategies. After leaving PricewaterhouseCoopers, John worked for Frost Brown Todd where he focused his practice on real estate law, estate planning, and business law. In 2004, John formed his own law firm and American Homeland Title Agency.
Jason Phillabaum
Managing Member Attorney
Practice Areas Include: OVI, Criminal Law, Family Law, Personal Injury Law, Employment Law, & Civil Litigation.
Licensed in Ohio and Federal Court.
Jason Phillabaum graduated from the University of Kentucky with degrees in Math and Music. He went on to graduate from Thomas M. Cooley Law School with Juris Doctorate in only 2 ½ years. He started practicing law in 2000. After law school Jason worked as an assistant prosecutor for over 11 years, involved in some of the most complicated cases in the County. Jason litigated hundreds of jury trials and bench trials, and has handled over 15,000 cases in the past two decades. In addition to criminal and civil cases, Jason assists many families in complicated and highly contested divorce and child custody matters. He is dedicated to every case, and he fights for his clients’ rights. Jason is very active in the community, and he is a Kentucky Colonel. He served as campaign manager for local political races, served on various local boards, assisted numerous non-profits, and served as a volunteer for local events. Jason also provides legal analysis for radio and local news reporters. He enjoys watching his children play sports (baseball and volleyball).
Megan Abbott
Associate Attorney
Practice Areas Include: Real Estate Law and Associate Attorney overseeing the Title Department
Licensed in Kentucky
Megan Abbott received her Bachelor’s degree in History from Northern Kentucky University and graduated from Salmon P. Chase College of Law. She started practicing law in October of 2001. Her career has included prosecuting misdemeanor and child support cases as an Assistant County Attorney for Kenton County, Kentucky, but has now moved to full time work in real estate, focusing on real estate sales and refinances. She greatly enjoys working with both those who are well versed in the process and those who are first time participants. As the legal title department manager, she works with all employees of the American Homeland Title Agency to help people’s home buying/selling needs become reality. Her greatest reward is researching all aspects of a closing to solve any title issue that may arise. In her spare time, she is a mother of a college student, enjoys woodworking, and celebrates all things Stanford University. Fear the Tree!
James Boyd
Associate Attorney
Practice Areas Include: Real Estate Law, Estate Planning, and Business Law.
Licensed in Ohio
James Boyd received his Bachelor’s degree in History with a minor in Religion from Miami University in 2014. He earned his law degree from the University of Cincinnati College of Law and was admitted to practice in Ohio in 2019. His practice focuses on estate planning for families. James enjoys guiding clients through the estate planning process and helping them gain peace of mind. James gained advocacy skills through his experiences with Pro Seniors Inc. and the Hamilton County Probate Court handling estate and trust administration cases. He also developed leadership skills as Justice of Phi Alpha Delta Law Fraternity and Vice President of the Student Bar Association while attending the University of Cincinnati. While in law school, James helped reinitiate the UC Law Women, a student organization to promote women’s’ equality in the legal community. James currently lives in Cincinnati with his wife. He enjoys traveling, gaming, and golf. James currently serves on the University of Cincinnati, College of Law, Alumni Board of Trustees
Hope Platzbecker
Associate Attorney
Practice Areas Include: Real Estate Law, Civil Litigation, and Business Law.
Licensed in Ohio & Kentucky
Hope Platzbecker received her Bachelor’s degree in Criminal Justice from Eastern Kentucky University in 2018. She graduated from Salmon P. Chase College of Law in 2021. Hope went to law school because she finds it interesting how the law interacts with most aspects of our lives and finds helping people through their legal issues to be a rewarding experience. Hope was born and raised in northern Illinois and enjoys making trips there when she can (a Packers fan). She also enjoys hiking and spending time with her husband and their Jack Russell Terrier. Hope also serves as a Treasurer on a Non-Profit Board.
Connor Nelson
Associate Attorney
Practice Areas Include: Real Estate Law, Criminal Law, Family Law, and Civil Litigation.
Licensed in Ohio
Connor Nelson received his Bachelor’s degree in Political Science with Honors from Marshall University in 2019. While in college, Connor interned for US Senator Joe Manchin. He then went on to receive his Juris Doctorate from the University of Cincinnati College of Law and was admitted to practice in Ohio in 2022. After law school, Connor joined the Hamilton County Public Defender’s Office, working as a Trial Attorney, during which he represented hundreds of clients throughout every stage of the criminal process. As an associate of Y&P, his practice now focuses on both courtroom litigation and real estate transactions. Connor is a Madisonville resident, where he resides with his fiancé, Victoria, and retired racing greyhound, Dexter. In his free time, Connor enjoys cooking and trying new food with his fiancé, golfing, and gaming.
Bryce Clayton
Associate Attorney
Practice Areas Include: Real Estate Law, Civil Litigation, and Business Law.
Licensed in Ohio & Kentucky
Bryce Clayton holds a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering from Western Kentucky University and a Juris Doctor from NKU Chase College of Law. Prior to joining Yonas and Phillabaum, Bryce’s previous experiences include working in intellectual property law, business law, and tort law. Bryce is married to his wife, Morgan, and has one dog, a labrador retriever mix named Remy. Outside of work, he enjoys spending time with his wife and dog, playing disc golf, water sports, and snowboarding.
James Fantetti
Of Counsel
Practice Areas Include: Appeals (including Constitutional Law), Consumer Debt Settlement, Juvenile Law, Criminal Law, Landlord/Tenant and Foreclosure Defense, & Civil Litigation.
Licensed in Ohio
James Fantetti graduated summa cum laude from the University of Cincinnati with a Bachelor’s degree in Philosophy in 2001. James went on to attend the University of Cincinnati College of Law where he earned his Juris Doctorate degree in 2004. Upon graduation, he worked for two years as a Law Clerk for the Ohio Twelfth District Court of Appeals. In 2006 James became an Assistant Prosecutor working for the Butler County Ohio Prosecutor’s Office. Over his 16 years as an assistant prosecutor, he prosecuted thousands of cases ranging from minor misdemeanors to serious felonies. In 2020, James left public service and entered private practice. He loves spending time with his daughter in nature. James enjoys painting landscapes in his free time.
Douglas Linn
Of Counsel
Practice Areas Include: Commercial Real Estate, Mergers & Acquisitions, Business Law, Wills & Trusts.
Licensed in Ohio
Douglas Linn brings a talent for managing large business transactions to the firm. He has practiced transactional business law for over a decade and understands the flow of a deal, from a term sheet through to maintaining a closing date. He graduated from Miami University in 2007 with degrees in History and Philosophy, with a focus on formal logic. He earned his law degree from Indiana University in 2010 and has been practicing since then. He maintains a transactional practice at Linn Legal and strategically works with Yonas & Phillabaum to resolve litigation issues for clients. Douglas is the chair of the Probate and Estate Legal Association of Cincinnati. In his spare time, he enjoys growing roses and herbs in his greenhouse and garden. He supports and fundraises for Kindervelt, Cincinnati Children’s Hospital, Hayden & Crew, and the Kennedy Heights Montessori Center.
Grace Larkin
Paralegal to Jason Phillabaum
Grace Larkin joined Yonas & Phillabaum as a paralegal in 2025. She will work mainly for Jason Phillabaum. Grace graduated from the University of Kentucky with a Bachelor’s degree in Political Science and English. Go Cats! A lifelong athlete, Grace grew up as a competitive swimmer. Her years in the pool helped instill discipline, resilience, and a team-oriented mindset which are qualities that continue to serve her well in the legal and professional world. Prior to her current role, Grace gained valuable experience through several internships. She worked as a pretrial intern in Fayette District Court, where she assisted with criminal case processing and court operations. She also served as a lobbyist intern at McCarthy Strategic Solutions in Frankfort, where she was involved in legislative tracking, client research, and policy advocacy. Outside of work, Grace enjoys going on walks, going to Kentucky sporting events with friends, and watching Rams football games with her boyfriend, Aidan.
Julieanne Fischer
Executive Assistant to John Yonas
Julieanne Fischer graduated from Lynchburg College in Lynchburg, Virginia, with a degree in Art History and Graphic Design. After graduation, Julie worked in galleries and museums in Los Angeles, Washington D.C., and New York. She eventually combined her love of art with digital technology and moved into producing visual effects and animation for award-winning films, documentaries, television shows and commercials. While pursuing her visual effects career, Julieanne lived all over the world in such places as Iceland, London, Beijing and across the U.S. In her spare time Julieanne likes to explore cheffy restaurants, and volunteers in the arts. Rachael Ray once cooked dinner for her. “She made Moroccan-style couscous and I’m sure it was under 30 minutes.” She also loves to hike, ski and is addicted to Nordic crime fiction.
Keren Keys
Paralegal to James Boyd
Keren Keys joined Yonas & Phillabaum in 2025 and will assist James Boyd as a paralegal. Keren graduated from Florida International University with a double major in Criminal Justice and Liberal Studies with a pre-law focus. Keren recently moved to Cincinnati after growing up in South Florida. Keren previously worked in a law firm where she assisted the attorney with getting clients on workers compensation, social security, and VA benefits. In her free time, Keren enjoys exploring nature, cooking, and spending time with family.
Katherine Cornish
Paralegal to Hope Platzbecker
Katherine Cornish joined Yonas & Phillabaum in 2025 as a Paralegal. She graduated from the University of South Carolina with a Bachelor’s degree in Social Work, where she developed a strong foundation in advocacy, systems-level thinking, and community engagement. Katherine’s passion for justice led her to serve as an intern with the Joint Citizen and Legislative Committee on Children in South Carolina, where she contributed to policy research, legislative monitoring, and initiatives that directly informed child welfare legislation. Katherine brings a strong interest in public interest law and a commitment to supporting marginalized communities. Originally from Lexington, Kentucky, Katherine is excited to now call Cincinnati home. In her free time, she enjoys getting way too competitive at trivia, visiting different concert venues, and rooting for the Cubs.
Isabel Parham
Paralegal to Megan Abbott & Connor Nelson
Isabel Parham joined Yonas & Phillabaum as a Paralegal in 2025. She works for Megan Abott and Connor Nelson, assisting with real estate, civil, and criminal cases. Isabel received her Bachelor’s Degree in English, with a minor in Sociology, from Ball State University. Immediately following college, Isabel moved to Cincinnati to work as a fourth-grade English teacher through Teach for America. Prior to joining Yonas & Phillabaum’s team, she worked as a legal editor, updating municipal codes for clients across the country. Isabel’s experience as an editor and proofreader has shaped her into a detail-oriented, organized, and driven person, and she is excited to leverage these skills as she expands her knowledge of the legal field. In her free time, Isabel enjoys reading, baking, and spending time with her cats.
Celine Norris
Paralegal to Jason Phillabaum & the Traffic Division
Celine Norris joined Yonas & Phillabaum in 2025. Celine earned her Bachelor of Arts in Political Science with a minor in Criminology from Miami University. During her time at Miami, she interned with the Oxford Police Department and with former Congressman Brad Wenstrup, gaining valuable experience in both law enforcement and legislative work. Celine is excited to contribute her organizational skills and attention to detail in support of the firm’s attorneys. Outside the office, Celine enjoys baking, spending time with her dogs, staying active with hot pilates, and cheering on the Bengals with family and friends.
Robert R. Hart, Jr.
Of Counsel, Retired
Robert Hart Jr. received his Bachelor’s degree from the University of Virginia in 1981. He received his Juris Doctor degree from Salmon P Chase Law School in 1985. Rob defended clients for nearly 40 years before retiring in 2025. He always emphasized that clients need to be treated with the respect and the professionalism they deserve.
Rob loves being surrounded by his family and adores his grandkids/ He has had a passion for golf most of his life and loves getting on a racquetball court each week too. He loves traveling and is an avid sports fan. He is looking forward to enjoying his retirement while doing more activities he loves such as frequenting his favorite restaurants and listening to live music.
Heather Burton
Office Administrator
Heather Burton graduated from Beckfield College with an associate degree in Business Administration. Heather manages the Brown County office as Yonas & Phillabaum expands to 6 offices in 6 counties. With over 7 years of experience in the real estate industry, Heather has developed a deep understanding of the real estate market and its trends. When Heather is not working, Heather enjoys spending time with her family and traveling around the country.
Colleen McLaughlin
Marketing & Social Media Coordinator
Colleen is a 2023 graduate of the University of Dayton, where she earned her B.A. in Communication Management. She brings valuable experience in digital marketing, community engagement, and content creation to our team. Previously, she served as a Contracted Promotions Coordinator at UD, where she was the primary point of contact for their Religious Studies Department’s high school summer program, Wayfinders, focused on faith development. Outside of work, Colleen enjoys spending time outdoors—hiking, kayaking, playing pickleball, walking her chocolate lab, and backpacking with friends. She’s also passionate about youth ministry and serves as a leader in her local parish. Her favorite place in the world? Yellowstone National Park, where she once spent six unforgettable months living and exploring.
Salem
Emotional Support Supervisor
Say Hello to Salem, our office’s emotional support K9. Salem is a 1-year-old Blue German Shephard. Salem began training to be an emotional support dog earlier this year. In addition to boosting office morale, Salem provides emotional support to our clients during difficult meetings and conferences. When Salem is off duty, he is a ball full of energy. Salem loves to play with his two German Shepard siblings, Sydney, and Maui. He and Maui spend a lot of time wrestling around the house and outdoors. Salem finishes the day guarding his house against any noise that may find its way in. Salem accepts payment in the form of treats, belly rubs and especially peanut butter.
Frequently Asked Questions
Whether you have been charged with misdemeanor trespass, an OVI, or even murder, the first step in your case is always the same – Arraignment. An arraignment is your first appearance in court on a criminal case. The prosecutor will read the charge(s) filed against you and some facts about the allegations, your attorney will respond with relevant “good facts” about you, and ultimately the judge or magistrate holding the hearing will decide on bond. Bond (otherwise known as “bail” or “bail bond”) is the pre-trial restrictions a court imposes on a criminal defendant while their case is pending. A typical example you may be familiar with is a cash bond, in which a court orders you to pay a certain amount of money before they release you from their custody. In addition to money, the court can order you to fulfill certain requirements (i.e., no alcohol/drug consumption, no driving, staying away from other specific individuals or places) or can also require you to wear certain pre-trial monitors (commonly known as house arrest).
Yes, landlords are allowed to include smoke-free provisions in residential lease agreements, but the provisions do not have a significant chance of being enforceable in a court of law.¹
The Ohio Department of Health (the “Department”) has officially released literature encouraging landlords to include smoke-free provisions in lease agreements. The Department believes that including these provisions will aid in preventing fires and eliminating the effects of secondhand smoke on other tenants.² Nonetheless, the Baldwin’s Ohio Handbook regarding Landlord Tenant law provides doubt that a smoke-free provision will be enforceable in a court of law.³
Many rental property owners ask whether they should create an LLC. An LLC can protect personal assets by limiting liability in lawsuits and provides added privacy since the property is listed under the company name, not the individual’s. However, owning property in an LLC may require hiring an attorney for certain legal matters, such as evictions. Property owners should weigh both the protections and obligations before deciding.
Ohio is an at-fault state, meaning the driver who is determined to be at fault for an auto accident is subsequently liable for injuries and damages. Damages can mean property damage, medical expenses, lost wages, pain and suffering, etc. For this reason, fault and/or liability in an auto accident is often heavily disputed by drivers. This is also why Ohio law mandates drivers to carry auto insurance.
Police reports are one of the most utilized tools in determining fault. Officers will normally respond to the scene of the accident and determine liability. This determination is often made based on statements from both drivers, witnesses, the physical appearance of the vehicles, the location of the damage to the vehicles, and an officer’s experience. More importantly, an officer will examine if one of the drivers may have been impaired, speeding, distracted, or breaking other traffic laws, which resulted in the auto accident. Even with all this information, some officers are simply unable to determine fault when it is a “close call.”
Proving liability in an auto accident is not easy, but dash cams, ring cameras, witnesses, location/proximity of the accident, and other factors have made it easier to establish liability.
